This holiday season, the Colorado Department of Agriculture is encouraging residents to support local producers by choosing Colorado-grown products for their celebrations. The department’s Colorado Proud program highlights the importance of buying from family farms, ranches, and small businesses across the state to help strengthen local economies and maintain Colorado’s agricultural traditions.
Danielle Trotta, program manager for Colorado Proud, stated, “The holidays are a perfect time to reflect on what we value, and nothing says ‘Colorado’ like sharing our incredible local bounty with friends and family. When you choose a Colorado Proud gift or ingredient, you’re not just getting a high-quality product, you’re directly investing in the economic stability of our rural communities and promoting sustainability.”
The department recommends using its Colorado Food and Gift Guide to find locally produced goods such as artisan cheeses from MouCo Cheese Company, Wagyu beef from Miraflora Wagyu, goat milk soap from Desert Sun Body Care, and spicy peanut butter from Pandemic Polly Peppers. The guide also features local beverage options including award-winning wines from Sauvage Spectrum—recipient of the 2025 Governor’s Cup Best in Show—and craft spirits from distilleries like Syntax or Root Shoot Spirits. Specialty coffee roasters such as Redemption Road Coffee are also included.
For those looking for holiday decorations sourced locally, the Christmas Tree List provides information on where to find various tree varieties along the Front Range.
To assist with holiday meal planning using local ingredients, consumers can consult the Farm Fresh Directory. This resource helps people locate fresh winter produce and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs such as those offered by Ahava Farm, Miller Farms, or Jodar Farms.
A crop calendar is available so shoppers can identify which products are in season throughout the year. Markets such as Boulder Farmers Market (open until November 22), Woodland Park Holiday Market (November 22), Boulder County Winter Market (December 6-7 in Longmont), and Fort Collins Winter Farmers Market (running November through April) offer opportunities to purchase fresh ingredients for holiday meals.
The department also points consumers toward recipe archives featuring dishes made with Colorado ingredients—ranging from quick dinners like Crockpot Ready When You Are Chicken and Potatoes to traditional meals like Hearty Beef Lasagna or sides such as Butternut Squash Casserole.
By selecting Colorado Proud products this season, residents can help sustain community agriculture while enjoying quality foods unique to the state. More resources—including guides for food gifts, Christmas trees, seasonal produce calendars, and farm directories—are available at ag.colorado.gov/markets.
